South Region, Florida Fishing Sites and Forecast

April-June 2008
	West Palm Weather, or Pick Another City

The following is a general description and quarterly forecast (teal-colored updates) for fishing conditions in major public water bodies in this region. For even more up-to-date information, we suggest you call or visit a local bait-and-tackle shop, fishing marina or guide service. We have provided information for some local contacts, who indicated they were willing to be listed herein. Clicking the clock/thermometer above will take you to a very detailed weather site, where you can get forecasts, historic weather information, moon phase, tide charts and sunrise/sunset times.

If you would like additional descriptions of these and other fishing sites listed by county, you can view or download the South Region Freshwater Fishing Guide (2.2 mb PDF). Please note, however, that their site is not routinely updated to reflect current fishing conditions. FMA guides for Caloosa, Okeeheelee, Plantation and Tropical are available as PDF files.

Everglades Conservation Areas	Miami-Dade, Broward & West Palm Canals	Lake Okeechobee
Lake Osborne	Lake Trafford	Statewide Forecasts

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EVERGLADES CONSERVATION AREAS (Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties): Water Conservation Areas (WCA) 2 and 3 are two sections of northern everglades habitat that are managed for multiple uses. Health advisories related to consumption of fish, especially bass, gar and bowfin are in effect for the area. The WCAs were designated primarily to receive flood waters from adjacent areas and store them for beneficial municipal, urban, and agricultural uses. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) currently manages the fish and wildlife in these areas. Both areas have continually provided superior fishing throughout the years. Largemouth bass is the most sought after species, and when waters levels are right, provide anglers with some of the highest catch rates in the state. Other popular species readily caught include bluegill, redear sunfish, pickerel, oscar, and Mayan cichlid. The majority of fishing pressure takes place during the winter and spring months when water levels are typically dropping, which concentrates fish into the perimeter canals. When water levels are up, anglers have access to vast marsh systems for a different type of angling experience.

Water Conservation Area 2 encompasses 210 square miles and is located in western Palm Beach and Broward counties. The majority of fishing takes place within the L-35B and L-38E canals which are each approximately 12 miles long. Main access for this area is the Sawgrass Recreation Area, located two miles north of Alligator Alley (SR84) on U.S. 27. Current fishing information, as well as a guide service, camping, food, boat rental, fishing licenses, and bait and tackle can be found there (telephone number 954-389-0202).

The 915 square mile WCA-3 is located in western Broward and Dade counties, just south of WCA-2 and north of Everglades National Park. Many miles of canals run around and through the area, including the L-67A, L-67C, Miami, and Tamiami canals. All are accessible by boat and the Tamiami Canal has abundant bank access. In a joint project, the FWC and the South Florida Water Management District constructed eight boat trails off the L-67A Canal to provide anglers access to the marsh areas (when water levels are high enough) for "flats" fishing. Many of the canals can be accessed at Holiday Park Recreation Area (telephone number 954-434-8111). Amenities there include fishing guides, boat rentals, camping, food, bait and tackle, and the sale of fishing licenses. Other access points to WCA-3 are boat ramps along Alligator Alley, Tamiami Trail (SR41), and at Mack's Fish Camp (305-822-5033) which is located on Krome Ave., one-half mile south of U.S. 27. The L-67A Canal runs from Holiday Park Recreation Area to the S-333 spillway at Tamiami Trail. Those anglers wanting to try their luck in WCA-2 will find access at Sawgrass Recreation Area, two miles north of SR84 along U.S. 27. Twenty-five miles of canals and their associated marsh can be found there. Also see our Water Conservation Area Brochure.

Black crappie fishing is beginning to slow as the weather begins to warm. Largemouth bass fishing is good using shiners, plastic worms, topwater plugs and spinnerbaits near vegetation. Bass fishing should be good through late spring, particularly early and late in the day. Bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcracker) fishing will pickup throughout the next few months as the fish begin their spawning cycle. For best results use worms, grass shrimp or crickets near shoreline vegetation. Fish on or near the bottom if you are targeting redear sunfish.

A map in PDF format is available courtesy of the South Florida Water Management District here.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE (Palm Beach, Martin, Glades, Okeechobee, and Hendry counties):

Lake Okeechobee is Florida's largest lake and the second largest body of freshwater in the contiguous United States. The word Okeechobee comes from the Seminole Indian language "Oki" (water) and "Chubi" (big) and means "big water." These early Floridians chose the name well. Vast surface area (730 sq. mi.), shallowness (averages only 9 feet) and enormous habitat diversities make the ecosystem unique on the North American continent. The lake is a multiple use resource, which supports valuable commercial and sport fisheries, provides flood control, and acts as a reservoir for potable and irrigation water for much of south Florida.

Lake Okeechobee is located on the south-central portion of the Florida peninsula at latitudes 27^o 12'N to 26^o 40'N and longitudes 81^o 07'W to 80^o 37'W. Major natural tributaries to the lake are Fisheating Creek, Taylor Creek and the Kissimmee River. Sheet outflow occurred originally across the entire southern rim into the Everglades. Prior to the 1900's, water quality was characterized as clear and alkaline, and bottom sediments were described as "clean sand." Levee and canal construction during the first half of the century confined the lake to a smaller area, eliminated overflow along the south shore, and facilitated backpumping of excess water from the Everglades agricultural area into the lake. During the past 30 years, rising nutrient levels and periodic increases in the lake stage regulatory schedules have decreased habitat quality and pushed the system nearer a hypereutrophic and ecologically undesirable state.

Primary sources of lake water include rainfall (30%) and major tributaries, canals and runoff (70%). Evaporation accounts for 70% of water loss, with the remainder exiting through engineered outflows. High water levels are maintained from October through March (dry season), while low water levels are maintained from June through August. Shallow depth, long fetch and moderate winds combine to preclude thermal stratification. Regular mixing by wind and wave action ensures dissolved oxygen levels adequate for biological processes throughout the water column. Water temperatures average between 59^o F(14^o C) in January to 86^o F (30^o C) in August.

Lake Okeechobee is nationally recognized as supporting high quality largemouth bass and black crappie fisheries. The lake also supports a commercial fishery dominated by catfish species. However, the commercial fishery is also nationally unique in that a limited entry fishery (10 nets) exists for haul seine gear which is permitted to legally harvest and sell bluegill and redear sunfish. Freshwater fishing retail sales in the five counties surrounding Lake Okeechobee were estimated at more than $117 million during 2000. Biologically, Lake Okeechobee can successively support recreational and commercial fishery interest. Fishery management concerns on Lake Okeechobee not only require allocating available fishery resources between recreational and commercial interests, but must also be concerned with resolution of socio-political issues that result from user conflicts.

Aquatic plant communities benefit fish by providing spawning habitat, serving as refuge areas from the environment and predators, and support an intricate food web by providing nutrients for invertebrates and herbivorous fishes, which serve as forage. Despite ecological advantages provided by aquatic plants to fishes and wildlife on Lake Okeechobee, controversy over management of vegetation continues among federal and state agencies with regulatory authority for aquatic plant management, water quality and supply, flood control, and fish and wildlife management.

Changes in water level and differences in plant community structural complexity and water quality within vegetation communities exert the greatest effect on fish distribution in the littoral zone of Lake Okeechobee. Historically, bulrush has yielded the highest mean standing stock values for total fish and game fish in block net sampling conducted on Lake Okeechobee. Importance of bulrush as habitat for adult game fishes has long been recognized by fisheries biologists and is frequently planted during lake restoration and habitat enhancement projects.

Submersed vegetation types provide important habitat for forage fish, such as minnows, shiners, and small bream. A positive relationship between hydrilla and production of juvenile game fish and forage fish has been documented by fisheries biologists. Dominant fish species abundance estimates for hydrilla, eel-grass, and Illinois pondweed (peppergrass) were similar which indicated equivalent habitat value for these vegetation types.

Since the adoption of higher regulation water level stages on Lake Okeechobee during the early 1990s, extreme high water events greater than 18 ft. above msl. (mean sea level) have occurred. High water levels, together with high winds, had a devastating effect on many plant communities. From the constant beating of high wind and waves, thousands of acres of plants such as bulrush, peppergrass, eel-grass, and hydrilla were uprooted or broken off. Plants near the bottom or in protected areas were subjected to die off from little or no sunlight reaching them as a result of highly turbid water.

The water level on Lake Okeechobee was lowered during May 2000 from 15 ft. msl. to 13 ft. msl. The subsequent drought, that struck much of the state of Florida, lowered the lake level to an all time record of 8.97 ft. msl (May 2001). Periods of drought have occurred on Lake Okeechobee about every ten years. Most of the emergent vegetation that was lost during the last several years was replaced by new plants. Thousands of acres of new bulrush, knotgrass, and other desirable emergent plants covered old established areas as well as many new areas where vegetation had not been before. Submergent vegetation such as peppergrass, eelgrass, and hydrilla, are returning but rather slowly.

Due to a wetter summer and fall during 2001, the water level on Lake Okeechobee rose nearly six feet in five months. This was a much greater rate than was hoped for as many new plants were lost before they could establish adequate root systems. Because of the great expanses of new vegetation these loses will not be perceived. The new WSE (water supply and environment) water level regulatory schedule, though it may prevent periods of extreme high water levels that have plagued the lake in recent years, has little or no decision criteria to protect the lake itself, as witnessed by the rapid water level rise during the summer and fall of 2001. Hopefully, the regulatory agencies will correct this soon and Lake Okeechobee will be better protected in the future. See the following links for more information: http://floridafisheries.com/forecast/toho-nov03.html http://www.charlotteharbornep.org/agendas-2004/TAC/1-14-04/7-LakeOLetter.pdf

The current water level on Lake Okeechobee as of this writing March 12, 2008 is 10.16 ft. NGVD, and has been below 11 ft. since last spring. The water level in the lake is expected to increase during the rainy season which begins in June. The lake is approximately four feet lower than the average for this time of the year. While low water levels are good for seed germination and vegetation re-growth, they can make navigation difficult or hazardous. Many areas of the lake that would normally be good areas for fishing are currently inaccessible by boat or completely dry. Many of the boat ramps to the lake are also inaccessible. The few areas that are currently accessible to the lake include Taylor Creek (when the locks are operating), the Kissimmee River, Indian Prairie Canal, Sportsman�s Canal and Clewiston Channel. As always, use caution when you are running your boat in Lake Okeechobee. It is recommended that you use a depth finder if your boat has one. Otherwise, it may be best to remain in deeper areas such as the Kissimmee River, Indian Prairie Canal, the Rim canal, and other canals around the lake. However, the lower water levels will make it possible for more restoration projects, and anglers should be be rewarded with good fishing in the following years from rejuvenated vegetation.

Largemouth bass fishing should be best on the outside edges of the shoreline vegetation (mainly bulrush, eelgrass and knotgrass). Try spoons and spinnerbaits in the grass flats, and plastic worms and flipping jigs in the heaver cover. Of course, golden shiners are the best live bait for largemouth bass. A lot of largemouth bass were found during electrofishing surveys in the lower Kissimmee River from the first lock (S65E), down to the mouth. Other areas to try are Tin House Cove and Indian Prairie areas on the west side, the West Wall, East Wall, the Tip of Ritta Island, Sportsman�s Canal and Clewiston Channel. A guide is highly recommended, especially for your first trip to the lake.

Black crappie fishing usually slows down into the spring, but people have reported good catches in the Kissimmee River. Anglers have reported catching nice sized crappie, many over 10 inches. Fish in deeper waters near edges of the canal shoreline drop offs and the pilings under the Highway 78 bridge. Fishing in the Kissimmee River will be best during times the river is flowing. Angling effort should be concentrated near the edges of vegetation stands. The best angling will occur early and late in the day. Use the usual fishing techniques for crappie throughout this time. Minnows should be suspended at various depths to locate schools. Jig fishing is most productive, as you can cover a great deal more area. The secret to successful crappie fishing is to move often, until you locate a school.

Bluegill and redear fishing will be at its best during the spring. Redear should be well into their spawning season by April. Much depends upon the weather at that time. Start looking for spawning areas within five days before and after the new and full moons. Areas to check this spring will be the mouth of the Kissimmee River and the northeast edge of King�s Bar near Okeechobee, the outer edge of Observation Island near Lakeport, and the outer edge of South Bay near Clewiston. Most redear are taken on live worms. Bluegills usually start their spawning season a little later than redear. Look for the bluegill bite to start picking up in April. Best areas will be the rim canals around Lake Okeechobee, the numerous canals leading to the lake, Kissimmee River and areas mentioned above for redear. Beetle spins and crickets are the preferred baits for bluegill.

Links for more fishing info:
Okeechobee Fishing Headquarters (800) 284-BIG "O" (2446) or www.fishokeechobee.com
Garrard Tackle Shop (800) 600-3474 (FISH) or www.okeechobeebassguides.com
For Crappie, Bluegill, and Shellcracker fishing contact: Marshall Shockley at 863 763 0466

A map in PDF format is available courtesy of the South Florida Water Management District here. Also se Real-time water level info from the USGS gage at Buckhead Lock.

OSBORNE CHAIN-OF-LAKES (Palm Beach County): Lake Osborne is a 356-acre water body located in Palm Beach County. Aquatic vegetation consists of cattail, spatterdock, and hydrilla. Nine fish attractors have been constructed on the lake and are marked with buoys. Fish present in Lake Osborne include largemouth bass, sunshine bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, catfish, and Mayan cichlids.

Because much of the lake is surrounded by John Prince Park, bank access is plentiful. The park has a public boat ramp and fishing dock equipped with its own automatic fish feeder. Picnic pavilions, a campground, and public restrooms are also present in John Prince. There are no marinas, fish camps, or bait and tackle stores on the lake. Numbers to call for information or guide service on Lake Osborne are Lone Star Bassin' Pro Shops (561) 967-2248 and fish guide Butch Mosier (561) 732-5996.

Anglers over the past month have reported catches of 20+ largemouth bass per trip fishing early in the morning using live shad or shiners along the edges of the lake. Eelgrass and hydrilla provide good sites to target largemouth bass moving out of shallow areas following the spawn. Largemouth bass will hit many of the popular lures such as topwater, spinnerbaits, and plastic worms worked during early morning hours and late afternoon. Try fishing any structure or vegetation you can find since the fish will be looking for attractive ambush sites. As the weather warms in the middle of the day try deeper water using Rat-L-Traps or deep diving crankbaits. Expect less action with sunshine bass as waters start to warm and the fish move to the deepest areas of the lake. Bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcracker) fishing will pick up during the spring spawn. Nice size channel catfish can be caught through the summer from the bank using chicken liver or live worms. No weather-related fish kills occurred this winter so non-native species, such as Mayan cichlid and Peacock bass, will be found in area waters. Anglers will find most Mayans near shore, next to vegetation, using both live worms and small artificial lures such as beetle spins and jigs. Anglers should remember to use smaller lures when targeting peacock bass and retrieve them just a bit faster than they would for largemouths.

METROPOLITAN MIAMI CANALS (Broward, Miami-Dade, West Palm counties): The man-made canals of coastal southeast Florida are part of an extensive, interconnecting network of canals that were primarily constructed in the early 1900's for drainage, flood protection, and water storage purposes. The freshwater canals in the southern section (Cypress Creek Canal and south) are mostly box-cut into a coral rock substrate, more than 10 feet deep with little littoral zone, and have much subsurface water flowing into them. The amount of groundwater flowing into some canals is sufficient enough to dramatically increase water clarity. Canals in the northern section (Hillsboro Canal and north) tend to be shallower, more bowl-shaped, have sugar-sand substrate, and little water ground water intrusion.

These urban canals provide excellent angling for a variety of sportfishes. Largemouth bass and snook roam throughout the tri-county canals and in the southern section, butterfly peacock and tarpon provide anglers an opportunity to complete a canal "trifecta" or "grand slam". The butterfly peacock is a world renowned sportfish that was successfully introduced by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission in 1984 to eat undesirable exotic fishes and to provide more sportfishing opportunities for anglers.

Miami-Dade County: April will find many butterfly peacock spawning in shallow water areas and Ashley Cornelius of Don�s Bait and Tackle in Homestead (305-247-6616) said this should be a great time for anglers trying to catch one. Cornelius recommends live shiners and small, minnow imitating lures by Matzuo, Yo Zuri, and Rapala as good choices for anglers targeting south Florida�s premier sportfish. The fire tiger color pattern is a dependable color whatever your choice of lure. The spawning season provides anglers one of their best opportunities for catching a large butterfly peacock as they are highly aggressive when guarding their nests. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission strongly encourages the catch and release of butterfly peacock year-round but more so during the spawning season to ensure the continued success of this very popular south Florida sportfish.

Cornelius commented that �trick worms� rigged Texas style, in colors including pumpkinseed and watermelon, is an effective tactic for catching largemouth bass in Miami-Dade waters. Live shiners are very effective bait for butterfly peacock and largemouth bass, and are also the bait of choice for snook and tarpon in urban canals. Wigglers, crickets or night crawlers fished under a bobber are an excellent way to catch bluegill, redear sunfish, Mayan cichlid and oscar. Mayan cichlid are often seen bedding in shallow water next to the canal banks, and are easily caught on a variety of baits including wigglers and red worms, bread, small poppers and beetle spins. Cornelius mentioned that a few snook are being caught in the freshwater sections of canals leading into Biscayne Bay and because the water is so clear, live shiners and pinfish are the best baits. Cornelius recommends anglers try the Aerojet and Parkline canals as good angling destinations for this time of year.

Broward County: Bill Sears of Les Will�s Bait and Tackle in Ft. Lauderdale (954-583-7302) said fishing for butterfly peacock should really pick up as water temperatures in urban canals rise and they begin to spawn. Sears recommends anglers try 1/8-1/4 oz Roostertails in green/yellow and green/orange or the 1/4 oz Bomber Fat A in green with black and yellow spots for some fast action. Small, live shiners are always a top butterfly peacock bait.

Largemouth bass should be coming off the beds ready to feed and Sears suggests anglers try topwater poppers made by Blazer or Rebel in silver/black or translucent green in the morning, then switch to black or red shad worm, cotton candy or watermelon lizard, or perhaps a watermelon fluke for some fast action. Bream will be spawning during this time and anglers should have great fun catching them on light spinning gear. Sears recommends tying on a long shank hook (such as a Carlyle #6) baited with a wiggler, red worm, or cricket for some fast bream action. Sears also said good catches of bream can be made using 1/32-1/16 oz crappie jigs with single or multiple tails. Jigs in white, green, and patterns with chartreuse are great bream bait colors.

Sears suggests visiting local parks such as Plantation Heritage, Markham, Brian Piccolo, and Quiet Waters for bass, peacock, and/or bream.

Palm Beach County: Butch Moser (561-732-5996) who guides in the Ida-Osborne chain-of-lakes said a live shiner or shad is tough to beat for largemouth bass. In April and May schools of bass can be found surface feeding on shad early in the morning and anglers should throw shad imitating lures such as Rat-L-Traps or Rapalas in gold/black or silver/brown for some fast action. By midmorning the bass are looking for shade and Moser likes to switch to plastic worms in pumpkinseed, black grape/blue glitter or black and fish them around the bridges. Clown knifefish can also be found feeding below schooling shad and Moser recommends putting a couple of small splitshot on your line to get the shad down to the knifefish. They also seem to like bridges and Moser recommends setting a float 4-6� above the hook and cast right next to the pilings. Butterfly peacock can be found in these waters and Moser suggests anglers fish a small shiner or minnow imitating lure such as a Zara Spook or Heddon Torpedo around and under the bridges to entice a strike from one of these hard battling sportfish. To fish these small baits most effectively and increase the �fun factor� Moser recommends anglers use 6# test line, an ultralight rod, and #2 Aberdeen hooks when live-baiting shad or shiners. Native and exotic bream (particularly Mayan cichlid) are caught on a variety of baits and Moser recommends worms and crickets or small tube jigs, crappie jigs, grub tails or Roostertail spinners fished along rocky shorelines for some great freshwater action. Moser suggests anglers try the many miles of fishable canals in the Ida-Osborne chain-of-lakes.

An exotic fish identifier with color pictures will assist anglers in identifying that unusual catch. �Fast Facts� for each of the pictured fish provide some information on the distribution and biology of some of Florida�s most common exotic fishes. A copy of this identifier is available by writing: FWC South Regional Office, Fisheries, Attn. Exotic Fish Identifier, 8535 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL, 33412, by calling (561) 625-5122, or by visiting FWC�s website at: www.myfwc.com/fishing/fishes/non-native.html. Also available upon request are Fifteen �Angler Friendly Guides� of south Florida canals, and a pamphlet providing directions to boat ramps accessing butterfly peacock canals. These free maps can be obtained by writing: FWC Non-Native Fish Lab, Attn. Canal Maps, 801 NW 40th Street, Boca Raton, FL 33431, or by visiting FWC�s web site at www.myfwc.com/fishing/pdf/index.html.

Caught a fish you can�t identify? A new color photo exotic fish identifier illustrates 19 species anglers may encounter in southeast Florida waters. This free guide is available by writing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 8535 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL, 33412. Fifteen �Angler Friendly Guides� of south Florida canals, and a pamphlet providing directions to boat ramps accessing butterfly peacock canals, are available by writing: FWC Non-Native Fish Research Lab, Attn. Canal Maps, 801 NW 40th Street, Boca Raton, FL 33431. The exotic fish identifier is available from FWC's web site: www.myfwc.com/fishing/fishes/non-native.html. The Angler Friendly Guides are available at www.myfwc.com/pdf/index.html

LOCAL FISHING GUIDES include:

Burke, John�954/971-1915
Fettes, Clark�954/426-2094
Harris, Doub�954/435-0486
Norling, Gregg�954/979-4933
Zaremba, Allen�954/961-7512

LOCAL BAIT AND TACKLE SHOPS include:

Everglades Pro-Bass Center�954/434-4495
Sea Shacks�305/279-8285
Southern Bass & Offshore Tackle Shop�954/979-4933
The Fishing Line�305/598-2444

TAXIDERMISTS include:

Marine Taxidermy of the Palm Beaches�561/585-0830
Steve's Marine Designs�954/752-4360
Don Winge�941/353-9359

A map in PDF format is available courtesy of the South Florida Water Management District here.

LAKE TRAFFORD (Collier County): Lake Trafford, located in Collier County, encompasses approximately 1,500 acres. Aquatic vegetation consists of cattail, spatterdock, and hydrilla. Fish species present in the lake include largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, and large brown bullheads. Access to Lake Trafford is mainly by boat. However, there is a small county park located on the lake that provides some bank access along with a nice public fishing pier. Lake Trafford Marina and the park both have public boat ramps. Services available from the marina include boat rentals, guide service, airboat tours, and bait and tackle. The phone number for Lake Trafford Marina is (239) 657-2401.

Lake Trafford water level is still very low. The area at the base of the public ramp was deepened a bit, so anglers with small jon boats or canoes can access the lake. Some anglers have reported catching nice crappie to 14 inches if they can get out on the water. Numerous shallow sandy areas and a few rocky outcrops require anglers to be extra cautious while on the lake. Bluegill and redear should provide additional species to target as the water continues to warm. Look for fewer Mayan cichlid this season since cold weather in early January killed a significant number of non-native fish.

Take Me Fishing.org is a great general information site for recreational anglers and boaters.

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